Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 159, No. 49, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Page: 2 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Singletary Memorial Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
2A
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Clferokeeaif Herald ■ thecherokeean.com
LETTERS
POLICY
Lettersmust contain thewriter sname, address
and zip, along with a daytime telephone number so
we may contact you with clarification or confirma-
tion. We will not print letters that contain incorrect
information or allegations deemed libelous, nor
will we publish form letters or copies intended for
mass distribution to other publications. The shorter
the letter, the better its chances for publication; we
reserve the right to edit letters for space.
Deadline is 11 a.m. Friday. Send letters to:
herald@mediactr.com, FAX to (903) 683-5104 or
mail to P.O. Box 475, Rusk, Texas, 75785.
ANN CUMBEE
opinion
s time to cut the pork R0ad lessons: things learned while traveling East Texas
Rusk
Just about everyone has
heard about the sad state of
our economy.
Iwasreadingin an econom-
ies book about what policies
encourage economic growth.
The six things the textbook
(Ruffin and Gregory 2001)
listed were:
• increase the interest rate
for savings accounts (tax
consumption, not savings to
encourage savings)
• free: trade to encourage
competition
• low inflation
• low government spending
except for education and na-
tional defense
• political stability
• invest in education (in-
creased knowledge promotes
new and imp roved technology
which increases output with-
out increases capital).
Later that same day I was
reading an article in Reader's
Digest. The article was titled
"Pushing Pork' and it was
written by Michael Crowley,
senior editor for The Neiv
Republic.
In his article he points out
how various members of our
congress passed a bill with
$6.6 billion in earmarked pork
barrel spending—spending
slipped in at the request of
certain congressmen and
never subjected to debate.
Mr. Crowley said a few of
those earmarked pork barrel
dollars were spent on things
like a study on the hibernation
habits of animals in Alaska,
$238.5 million: expand a
training center for federal
customs and border agents
that the White House said
was not needed, $40 million:
a Mother's Day shrine in
West Virginia, $123, 000, an
International Peace Garden
in North Dakota, $295,000:
and a teapot museum in North
Carolina, $500,000.
Mr. Crowley also reported
that during the 2009 budget
season, the House Appropria-
tions Committee "designated
11,610 earmarked pr oj ects for
this year, at a cost of $17,2
billion... ".
So, my question is: if the
economists know what it
takes to encourage economic
growth, one of which is con-
trolled government spending,
and surely our Congress has
access to advice from the na-
tion' s best economist s, why are
they spending so much of the
taxpayer's money in such an
exorbitant way?
Do they know what to do
and just don't care? Would
they rather cater to lobbyists
who ask for these earmarked
dollars than serve the public
who has trusted them to rep-
resent us?
If you re interestedin know-
ing more, Mr. Crowley listed
the following sites in his ar-
ticle: cagw.org, taxpayer.net.
earmarkwatch.org.
You can also write to your
legislators to tell them you
don't support this type of
spending. The sites to aid in
this endeavor are house.gov
and senate.gov.
250 OR LESS!
Great selection of
Clothes, Shoes, Knick-
Knacks!
GOOD SAMARITAN
203 W. 2nd Street •
Rusk
(903) 683-2376
Open Monday,
Wednesday, Friday
9 -11:30 a.m.
Loans or CDs
Check our rates 1st:
903-683-2277
Citizens 1st
BANK
Member F.D.I.C.
EQUAL HOUSING LENDER
■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■
NEW HOURS
To Better Serve You, Our Customer!
The Legacy of Harvey Collins
Is now serving lunch on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
from 11 AM -1:30 PM
Lunch and dinner
will be served on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
from 11 AM-8 PM.
We will also serve lunch on the
1st Sunday of the month
beginning February 1st
The Legacy of Harvey Collins
1204 W. 6th St. • Rusk • 903-683-2727
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 11-1:30 PM
Branded by Christ
Cowboy Church
Sunday • 10 a.m.
Worship Service
Thursday • 6:30 p.rrt
Bible Study
Curtis Oliver - Pastor
(936) 867-5533, home or (936) 675-3205, cell
5592 Hwy 110 N
(5 miles from 84 & 110)
Robert Nichols
By Sen. Robert Nichols
Special Contributor
Last year I shared how my
first year as your state sena-
tor brought new challenges
and opportunities. This year
was no differ-
ent,. Despite
the fact that
the legislature
does not regu-
larly meet in
evén-numbered
years.Iwasjust
as busy in 2008
as in 2007.
The time away from Austin
let me enjoy my favorite part
of being a senator, traveling
throughout the district and
hearing directlyfromyou about
your needs. I met with civic
organizations, elected officials,
students and citizens. Seeing
the hard work everyone does
to make their communities
better only made me prouder
to represent you.
One group I wanted to
make sure I heard from was
the 80-plus superintendents
in District 3. The legislature
makes a lot of decisions about
how to educate Texas children,
but these men and women are
the ones who must take the
policies of the state house to
the school house. They hear
directlyfcompárents, teachers,
students and taxpayers. In my
meetings with these education
leaders, the same theme came
up again and again -- we must
provide opportunities for Texas
children regardless if they live
in a rural area, a suburb or
the inner-city. I will continue
to advocate for equahty in our
education system and look out
for our school children.
Driving through the district,
I have a lot of time to think
about the state of Texas' trans-
portation system. As a former
transportation commissioner
and member of the senate
transportation and homeland
security committee, I know that
Texas faces an ever-growing
need to improve our roads.
However, we must be smart in
how we address those needs.
Last session I authored a bill
to put a moratorium on private
toll road deals that could have
cost Texans billions. Since that
time, Ihaveworkedon a special
committee to help Texas find a
better solution. I believe that
by listening to the concerns of
all parties, the committee is
developing ideas to effectively
and fairly build Texas roads of
the future.
Here in East Texas, we re-
ceived some good transporta-
tion news this year. In Juné,
the Texas Transportation
Department announced it
would no longer explore build-
ing the Trans Texas Corridor
through undeveloped areas of
East Texas. Instead, it would
consider following the path of
already existing Highway 59
and develop it as an interstate
highway. This decision was
a huge victory for the thou
sands of Texans who called
their legislators, wrote to the
governor, and testified before
committees,
Over the last year, I joined
with concerned citizens, labor
groups and business leaders
calling for an end to a state
contract which took jobs away
fromhardworking, law-abiding
East Texans. By allowing
a private company to use
prison labor to make trailers
for 18-wheelers, the prison
industry enhancement pro-
gram unfairly undercut Lufkin
Industry's trailer division. Not
able to keep up with the cheap
prison labor and the free use of
facilities the competition used,
Lufkin Industries had to close
the trader division, cutting 150
East Texas jobs. Two weeks
ago, we received word the state
would not renew the contract.
It's one more example of how
people can make their voices
heard in Texas government.
The last year reminded me
that government works best
when it hstens. During the
upcoming legislative session I
will often be in Austin instead
of traveling the district but I
still want to hear from you.
I wdl pursue legislation to
lower property taxes, improve
our transportation system and
stop abuses of eminent domain.
If you have any questions or
concerns, feel free to contact
my office.
As a new legislative Session
begins, our state faces many
challenges. I believe we also
face great opportunity. Thank
you for your support. May
God bless you and your family
in 2009, and may God bless
Texas.
Use Your Income Tax Refund To Lower Payments Even More!
2008 Pontiac G-6
$347,mo
MSRP-$22,585
$19,696
stk#67593
2008 Chevy HHR LT
$314,mo
MSRP-$20,330
$17,850
stk#38108
2007 Chevy Cobalt
$222-
stk#1549
$12,600
2007 Chevy Trailblazer
2.1" f ' '-■""■''■r.-
$246w
stk#38077A
$13,995
2008 Pontiac G-6 GT
$264„
stk#1533
$14,995
Diamo Retro 150 Scooter
2009
2 Yr
Warranty
$2,360
Diamo UTV
Discovery XLT 700
Winch, Windshield, Roof
$7,660
2008 Chevy Aveo
$219,--
MSRP-$14,508
$12,495
stk#28126
2005 Chevy Trailblazer
*203,
stk#27975B
$9,995
2008 Chevy Uplander
$246,„
stk#1554
$13 995
2007 Buick Lacrosse
$264w
stk#1536
$14 995
Diamo ATV 500 4WD
Camo
$5,860
TNG Venice 49 Scooter
2009
2 Yr
Warranty
$1,840
*Deriotes monthly payments
with 0 down and 8% APR
W.A.C. For 72 months.
**Denotes monthly payments
with 0 down and 8% APR
W.A.C. For 60 months.
2008 Chevy Equinox
MSRP-$23,395
$19,857
stk#38054
2003 Hyunda Santa Fe
4
stk#1561
$1 ,395
2004 Jeep Liberty
M
$203lm„.
stk#1562
$9 995
2003 Toyota Sienna
$243/mo
stk#1563
$11,995
2008 Buick Lucerne
$352,„o
stk#1547
$18 995
Diamo RS 250 Dirt Bike
$1,995
Diamo ATV Scout 300 4WD
Camo
$3,995
Greg James Country
Hwy. 69 South • Rusk * 903-683-2202
CM K
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 16 places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 159, No. 49, Ed. 1 Wednesday, January 28, 2009, newspaper, January 28, 2009; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152871/m1/2/?q=%222009%22: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.